Active Roanoke artist and Old Southwest resident Gerald Hubert has owned galleries, shown in numerous public spaces, and currently undertakes commissioned work.

“For my self-portrait, I was thinking about my connection to my neighborhood, especially in the relationship to Roanoke's LGBT community,” says Hubert. “The late neighborhood activist Cecil Higgin-Botham is honored in Argonne Circle in front of my home, and I wanted to convey respect for those who came before us and shape the community we live in today. The figure on the right is me in drag, Mrs. Crabby Apple, a social-media personality my husband and I created last year. Her paintbrush, like a magic wand, bestows me with renewed life. I am inspired by feminine creative energy, as well as the intersection of nature and city life.”